what is the best way to stop your child becoming an atheist

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Atheism, in its broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of gods. This definition includes both those who assert that at that place are no gods and those who make no merits near whether gods exist or not. Simply stated, anyone who does not believe in a god(s), by definition, is an atheist. Narrower and more common definitions, nevertheless, often only qualify those who assert there are no gods as atheists, labeling the others equally agnostics or just non-theists.

At that place is no unmarried ideology that all atheists share, nor are there whatever institutionalized rituals or behaviors. In that location are certain individuals whose religious or spiritual behavior some might describe as atheistic, though those holding such beliefs do not normally describe themselves equally atheists.

Due to some opposite conventionalities, primarily in heavily religious countries, being an atheist does non imply deliberately "disobeying God". Disbelief is not a belief just is only the absence thereof. Atheists are also sometimes accused of "hating God", which is impossible since you lot can not hate something you do non believe exists. Atheism is not directly linked to evolution, nor the big bang theory. However, many atheists, primarily those who wish to study atheism and faith further, plough to science, hence gaining an interest in such theories.

In countries such as the U.s. of America and continents such as Asia, organized religion is thriving. Although information technology may seem black and white, countries with the highest poverty and murder rates, everyman teaching rates and human development rates (HDI), tend to be the virtually religious, in dissimilarity with the well-nigh atheistic countries, such as Norway and Sweden. This tin can also be observed in the Usa by land.

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1. 1

   Examine your current behavior. No thing what you previously believed, if at present deep downwardly you detect no belief in god, your transformation is already complete. At that place is no process or initiation for becoming an atheist (except possibly a "coming out" to others). If you can honestly think, "I don't believe there is a god/gods," you are already an atheist.^[1]

2. 2

   Understand the difference between conventionalities and truth.

   Consider the following examples:^[ii]

   • A stranger comes to your door and tells you that your child has been killed in a motorcar accident exterior their schoolhouse.
     • You would feel a pang of emotion, only this is a stranger. Exercise you lot believe them? Do they know who your kid is? Is this some sort of brutal joke? Do yous really believe that your kid has been killed? You lot will be inclined to harbor some strong doubts.
   • Two police officers come to your door, team motorcar in the driveway. They tell you your child has been killed. They need you to come with them to identify the body.
     • You volition in all likelihood believe them, they are police officers. You will feel the emotion as though you know for a fact that your child is dead. Information technology will be existent to you.
   • You should notice that the departure between these two examples is the authorization of the messenger, not the bulletin itself. These examples are besides chosen for their emotional content because the emotional content is a large part of what makes a state of affairs real to u.s.a..
   • The bespeak is, whether we believe something based on authority, or emotion, or both, nosotros cannot know it is true until we encounter with our ain eyes. The highest potency you tin imagine could tell y'all the simplest thing, and y'all may believe them, and they may believe themselves, just that does not in whatever way make it truthful.

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3. 3

   Understand the departure between scientific belief and religious belief.

   The deviation between belief in a scientific theory equally opposed to conventionalities in a religious dogma boils down to the divergence between the institution of scientific discipline and the institutions of various religions.

   The underlying concept in religious institutions is that the nature of reality is known. The nature of reality is written in a book or scroll. This writing was originally done, or dictated, or inspired, by a god. Religious institutions are primarily concerned with spreading data about the "known" nature of reality because, in their understanding of reality, that is what they are required to do. Religious "facts" are not subject to testing, and in most cases cannot be tested. Religious "facts" are supported by evidence that is open to estimation, or no evidence at all. Religious "facts" are not reviewed by all religions to achieve a consensus.

   The underlying concept in the institution of science is that the nature of reality is unknown. The institution of science is primarily concerned with discovering the nature of reality without making assumptions. Scientific theories must, by definition, exist testable (falsifiable). Theories must be published for review past other scientists with the intention of reaching a consensus. Accepted theories are supported past evidence that is not open to interpretation, or is consistently interpreted past qualified scientists. If evidence is institute that contradicts a theory, the theory will be abandoned.

   One believes in a scientific say-so, because they derive their dominance from the review process, and because they have an interest in discovering the truth. One believes in a religious say-so because they have been given authority by their superiors, who in plow go their authority from their subordinates. Religion has no involvement in discovering the truth considering the "facts" are already known.^[3]

4. 4

   Call back that you lot aren't the simply person who has found mistake with their religion. People throughout history accept looked critically at their religious behavior and found fault. If you accept issues and bug, then expect at them honestly, with the notion that y'all volition not exist punished for trying to notice what you lot truly believe. If your beliefs are valid, and so they volition stand up to scrutiny. Most of the religions that have e'er been, accept gone extinct. Yous would exist hard pressed to find people worshiping Thor or Quetzalcoatl. Take a hard await at why you don't believe in Thor, or Rah, or Zeus. Would you be Islamic, Christian, or Jewish if you were raised in Iran, Mississippi, or State of israel?

5. 5

   Consider your ethics and endeavour to empathize where they come from. ^[4] You don't demand a god/gods to exist moral. Atheists are non unethical. Like many theists, many atheists donate to clemency and live lives that are morally similar to those of theists. Atheists just might have different motivations for doing and then. Many non-believers focus their concerns on social justice.^[5]

   With or without religion, people can be good or bad.^[6] - Steven Weinberg.

6. half-dozen

   Empathise what atheism isn't. Many people conflate atheism with things that are either unrelated or true of about just not all atheists.

   • agnosticism|An agnostic is someone who is unsure of whether or not a god exists.^[7] You can be both an atheist and agnostic. Many atheists are also doubter (fifty-fifty if they only identify as agnostic). A gnostic atheist is someone who is someone who is sure of god(s)'south nonexistence.
   • Atheists do not "detest god". Since atheists do non believe in a god(s) they cannot detest something they cannot detest information technology. (They tin notwithstanding detest the notion of a god(s) or the idea of god(s)'s impact on society though many atheists practice not hate the notion of god.)
   • Atheists aren't always not-religious. Though well-nigh people who identify as atheists are non-religious some organized religions are atheistic.
   • Notation that being an atheist does not mean that someone doesn't believe in the afterlife. Although many atheists don't, atheism is lack of belief in god(southward) not the afterlife.
   • You practise non accept to be anti-religion. Some atheists, however, practice disapprove of organized religion as well every bit the doctrine of religion as a virtue. In that location are others who still attend religious services for their own reasons, such equally an agreement with some of the moral tenets, membership in a customs, or fifty-fifty only a fondness for the music.
   • Y'all exercise not have to write off the possibility of unverified or unverifiable phenomena. You tin acknowledge that they are possible without insisting or acting equally if they are true, or trying to convince others that they are truthful.
   • You lot do not take to subscribe to whatsoever set of beliefs. Atheism is not a religion. Atheists hold a wide variety of behavior and outlooks, the only similarity being a lack of belief in a god or gods.

7. vii

   Empathize that you practice not accept to give up your culture. Civilization, tradition, and tribal loyalty are important to many people, including atheists. By denying conventionalities in a god/gods, one need not totally dissociate oneself with the civilization associated with his or her onetime faith. Virtually every northern hemispheric culture celebrates a winter solstice vacation. A possible explanation for this is the lack of agrarian work to exist performed and the abundance of nutrient stores for the dearth winter months alee. Such a commemoration tin can exist, and is in many cases, still important to an atheist for its intrinsic values -- those of sharing and community, among others. Many atheists who were either formerly religious or even one who were never religious celebrate religious holidays such equally Christmas or Hanukkah with their religious and nonreligious friends and family alike.

8. eight

   Learn to come across and come to conclusions about the world through a logical lens, rather than through religion. The Scientific Method is universally accepted as the all-time manner to sympathize the world.

9. 9

   Hash out the globe in this context with other atheists and with religious people. This will help y'all empathize why people believe what they do and assist you sympathize your atheism in that context.

   • If in that location aren't many atheists in your area (or you can't talk to them) try looking for an online community.

10. x

    Study various forms of theism. ^[8] While most atheists argue that theists are making a positive assertion (and thus bear the burden of proof), it is important to thoroughly understand your former religion and its tenets as well as those of other faiths. The more versed you are in other religions and the more you lot understand why people believe what they exercise, the better basis you'll accept for your worldview. Too, it will assistance you fend off those that will try to convert you to their religion, once they learn of your atheism.

11. 11

    Communicate your perspective to those who are curious. Practice not be shy, but don't be cavalier. Try to help them sympathize your betoken of view in a non-confrontational manner. However, you may cull to hide your perspective if it is clear y'all are going to run across trouble. In some countries or regions, the price of disbelief can be very high.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Is it etical to sing Christmas songs at school? What about doing the Christmas tree?

  

  Many atheists partake in traditional Christian wintertime festivities. Some sing Christmas songs for cultural reasons, some social, and some just enjoy the music. Christmas copse are less of a testament to a deity than to the secular world, every atheist I know proudly displays a Christmas tree. At the stop of the day, if y'all enjoy singing Christmas songs and decorating copse, don't cease! Life is short, enjoy it.

• Question

  What if my family unit is religious, but I want to be an atheist? What do I do?

  

  If they are very religious and y'all depend on them for your basic needs, it's inadvisable to share your atheism with them. Information technology's hard to estimate the open mindedness of one'southward family when rock solid beliefs are at stake. If you are not dependent on them and feel that your relationship with them is strong enough to survive such a disagreement, or if existence out equally an atheist is worth the alienation they may bailiwick you lot to, then go for it. At the end of the twenty-four hour period, you must be true to yourself and if you believe this life is the only one you lot'll become, don't spend it fawning to those whose beliefs cause yous grief.

• Question

  How do I stop feeling bad for beingness an atheist?

  

  There is nothing to feel bad most. Call up of it this way - atheism is not a loss of religion simply a graduation from faith. Those who declare themselves atheist have learned, through logic and reason, that a deity cannot exist in our earth. Atheism is merely the assertion of logic and agreement over speculation and myth. Don't feel bad about information technology - embrace it! Information technology'southward who you are.

• Question

  Is it okay to be an atheist?

  

  Sure. Some religious people would say it isn't, only they're patently biased by their ain religious behavior to think that. It'due south upward to each person to figure out their own behavior and morals. As long as you're not hurting everyone, no 1 tin definitively tell you that what you do, think, or believe is wrong.

• Question

  How can I convince my Christian mom that atheists tin can celebrate Christian holidays?

  

  Tell her that Christian holidays are just modified and repackaged Pagan holidays, and that you are only making your own modifications by excluding the religious components, much every bit the Christians excluded the Heathen components when they modified the holidays in the outset place.

• Question

  What type of funeral service should I wait if I'thousand an atheist or agnostic?

  

  You can plan it yourself alee of time and have whatsoever sort of funeral yous'd similar, but more often than not you lot'd become pretty much your standard funeral, though perhaps without the religious readings and/or imagery.

• Question

  What's the all-time style to raise an atheist kid?

  

  The same way you would raise whatever other child. Merely don't push on them whatever organized religion - nor, ideally, atheism either. If they ask you virtually your beliefs, y'all can talk over them honestly, but tell them it'due south up to them to decide what to believe. And teach them to respect other people's different behavior and perspectives. See How to Enhance a Kid for a general overview.

• Question

  And so does this mean I'grand not Catholic anymore when I cull to be atheist?

  

  Atheism is the absence of a religion and, by definition, cannot coincide with a religion.

• Question

  Can I gloat Christmas?

  

  Yes. Many Atheists celebrate Christmas. Call back, you practice not have to give up your civilization to go a different religion.

• Question

  Am I an atheist if I am not certain of God's existence?

  

  What yous are describing is an agnostic- someone who claims neither conventionalities or disbelief, as they are unsure. An atheist, by definition, means that you lot do not believe in the possibility of God's existence.

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Atheism has always been virtually asking questions. The question of whether a supreme being existed or not is one of the virtually of import questions in human history, and not to mention your ain life. Have some time and ask yourself the post-obit questions. It may reinforce your belief in a deity, and information technology may pb y'all to disbelief.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

1. Why do I believe in a god? This is the most important question of all. Do you accept any reason to believe? If so, what is your reason?
2. How did I come up to believe in a god in the get-go identify? If you lot are atheist, you are most likely to have been raised in a religious dwelling. As children, we are extremely susceptible and prone to learning, which means that what we learn may be hard to shake. Another of import thing to notation is the fact that if you were born in the Usa of America (or whatsoever other majority Christian nation), y'all are almost likely to get a Christian. If you were born in Kingdom of saudi arabia, you are most likely to get a Muslim. If you had been born in Norway in the Viking ages, you would accept believed in Thor and Odin. If yous were non raised in a religious dwelling house, however, accept some fourth dimension to analyze what happened in your personal procedure of conversion.
3. Is there any evidence for a god? So far, there is no evidence at all for any supreme existence. If y'all recollect you have evidence for a god, do some research. You may be surprised.
4. Why do I believe in my specific god?/What if I'm wrong? There are thousands of different gods to choose from. If y'all are a Christian, then what if the Roman gods are the true gods? And of course, the other mode around. Since there is no evidence for any god, you are taking a hazard based on blind organized religion, that your god is the right one. Most monotheistic religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, support the concept of a hell, where nonbelievers will be damned for all eternity. What if the other religions are right and yours is wrong?
5. Focusing on Christianity, what does "Jesus is the son of God" actually hateful (or imply)? Where did Jesus become the 23 chromosomes needed to become a human? Is God the biological father of Jesus? Is God the spiritual begetter of Jesus? Is God some other kind of father?
6. Is God really "all-seeing"? What is "knowable"? (east.one thousand., "The number hairs on the heads of all living people" is "knowable".) Does God actually see or know ALL things? We take in "cognition" through our "senses" – sight, hearing, etc, and save the "cognition" in our brains. What sort of "senses" does God have? How does God obtain information? Does "knowing" require a concrete basis in a living matter?
7. Is God really "omnipotent" and/or "omnibenevolent"? A lot of really "bad" things (earthquakes, murders, rapes, auto accidents, etc.) happen in the earth all of the time. Did God crusade any of them? Has God ever washed annihilation to end annihilation "bad" from happening? Is there any evidence that God has ever used his ability? Is in that location any expectation he will ever use his power?
8. Is God really "omnipresent"? 1 definition/explanation is: "[t]he aspect of God by which he fills the universe in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not apart, but the whole of God is present in every identify." We know that God is not "physical" (He is not composed of atoms). How practise nosotros know if God is e'er present if he can't be seen or measured?
9. What does it mean "to exist?" We know that God is not "physical" (He is not composed of atoms). No ane has measured God as a "force" (like gravity). So what does information technology mean for God "to be"? I cannot prove a negative (it can't be proven that God does not exist). Only if no 1 has really been able to show (by scientific methods) that God exists, does anyone expect that real proof volition exist forthcoming in the next 100 years?
10. Can in that location actually be "life after death"? Nosotros know that our souls are not "concrete". Then afterwards death, how do we recall, see, hear, talk, communicate, etc.?
11. Exercise miracles actually happen? Does God answer prayers? Is God an "active" God? Let'south define a miracle as "an result that cannot mayhap be explained by any of the natural forces or natural laws – something that must have been a supernatural deed of a divine agent." For case, finding a rock that is suspended in mid-air, or witnessing one element/compound existence converted into another – copper into gold, water into vino, etc. (Note that evidence of a phenomenon would not prove that God exists, it would just testify that in that location is a force in the universe which we cannot comprehend. It could be God or some other deity, or aliens, anything.) Since there have been no documented miracles in the recent past, does anyone seriously believe that there will be a phenomenon in his/her lifetime? But if in that location are no miracles, and then God is non an "active" God; i.east., God does not intervene in any way on our planet – everything that happens occurs within the boundaries of the "natural forces and natural laws". Therefore God has not answered prayers and is unlikely to always reply prayers. Is it cocky-centered to enquire God to suspend the natural order for us? Many considerately bad things happen (earthquakes, aeroplane crashes, murders, rapes, etc.) to people, with seemingly no regard for religious beliefs. Should exceptions exist fabricated only in our case? If you practice not believe that God intervenes, is it logical to pray to him? To worship him?
12. How well do you empathise your "human being nature"? Let's ascertain three "levels of faith", each requiring a "larger leap" than the preceding 1: (1) a belief that God exists; (two) a belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and (3) a belief that the Bible is "inerrant" (totally true). Annotation that each level requires a belief in something that cannot be proved – beliefs that must be taken "on faith". A reasonable person, examining the physical show found in our universe, would come to the conclusion that the Earth is significantly older than ten,000 years. Just those who believe that the Bible is inerrant believe God created the world (and universe) some 10,000 years ago. Because of the nature of the human mind, this belief is treated not only equally a fact but is treated as a fact that has precedence over anything else that the mind tin can observe and think about. In their view, any observation that contradicts this fact must have been observed (or reported) incorrectly: due east.thou., "Since at that place are fossil dinosaur bones, and then dinosaurs were alive 10,000 years ago and some unknown process fossilized and cached their bones. Even if we can't effigy out the procedure and even it is beyond human understanding, God knows". And then people who are not at "level 3 faith", when thinking most people at "level iii faith", must conclude that in that location is something near human nature that allows beliefs to "blind" people to the reality around them. (This may exist why "faith" is often called "blind faith".) People at "faith levels 1 and 2" should then look at themselves and question whether their faith also blinds them to the reality around them (sky and hell do not exist, at that place can't possibly exist life after death, miracles do not happen, etc.). Also often, when people question their organized religion, they await inside themselves for reasons why they question their faith and do not question why their articles of faith do not stack upward against reality.

• Treat all people, including religious people, with respect, because it's the sensible affair to practice. Being unpleasant to people of religion will probably only validate their negative assumptions that they may have about other value and belief systems.

• Call back, it'southward okay to exist an atheist!

• Y'all may want to read books past Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Carl Sagan, or listen to routines by comedians George Carlin and Tim Minchin. They are all associated with atheism.

• Don't worry about appearing religious/sharing religious values, or well-nigh always "opposing" religion. As long equally you feel you are atheist, you are.

• If you lot are still in school, and faith is a subject, enquire your principal or teacher to allow yous take off religion. You lot could have extra classes, or read, draw etc, while religion class is on. Sometimes, other students in your class may want to exercise the same matter.

• Watch Youtube videos made by users like Thunderf00t, FFreeThinker, TheThinkingAtheist, and Onision. In that location are also many other videos on Youtube promoting, explaining and defending atheism. These tin can be of good help.

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• Believers may endeavor, sometimes relentlessly, to convert you. They may completely fail to empathise your new position. Exist understanding.

• You may find that some friends will no longer desire to associate with you. These were not real friends in the get-go place. If they were, then they would still exist friends with you.

• Be prepared to exist ill-received by some religious people. Many theists find your lack of behavior both offensive and horrifying. Many atheists discover themselves socially scorned or fifty-fifty threatened with violence. It is of import to talk about your ideas, only be certain to do this in an advisable context.

• If you lot go off religion in class, the other students in your class may first to hate/envy you.

• Some parents will react harshly to you coming out every bit an atheist. If yous are worried that coming out to your parents may be unsafe (potentially existence killed, losing college fund, getting kicked out, etc. etc.) it may be best to not come out (especially if yous're a minor or dependent on them).

• Written report your behavior. Don't only become an atheist considering you desire to. Study and think almost whether or not a god existing is really reasonable. Ultimately, you don't determine to become an atheist because you don't really choose to be unconvinced. Somewhen, you lot just realize that you are unconvinced.

• Do not go public if you're in a country where atheism is illegal. As atheism means no god, there is no god that will magically protect you for being an atheist. Only come out when it's prophylactic.

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